Ferric Nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) -Induced Transfer Amyloidosis

Abstract

The results showed that spleen cell suspensions from mice which had received 72 daily injections of Fe-NTA over 90 days were effective for developing transfer amyloidosis after recipients had receivied 99 injections of Fe-NTA over 120 days. Amyloidosis was proposed to be brought about by macrophage dysfunction induced as a result of a secondary immune response although it remains undetermined whether “amyloid- inducing (or accelerating) factor” may be involved in the genesis of Fe-NTA-induced transfer amyloidosis. Electron microscopic findings of the amyloidotic spleen were discussed with special reference to the significance of proteolytic enzymes released from the cell surface of RE cells assumed to be involved in extracellular amyloid synthesis.